NEWS & REPORTS

Edmonton student wins $10,000 grand prize in Canada 150 video contest

Kathy Milanowski, a student at the University of Alberta, took the top prize in the Here’s My Canada video contest, a Canada 150 Signature project from Historica Canada.

October 11, 2017 – Kathy Milanowski, a student at the University of Alberta, took the top prize in the Here’s My Canada video contest, a Canada 150 Signature project from Historica Canada.

The contest received more than 10,000 submissions from across all provinces and territories that sought to creatively answer the question, “What does Canada mean to you?” Winners were selected by a jury panel of notable Canadians including historian Charlotte Gray, and author and journalist Brian Maracle.

Milanowski, a Visual Communication Design student, used illustrations and voiceover to share her vision of Canada in her video “Our Canadian People.” She said, “I wanted to showcase not only Canada’s incredible landscape and accepting nature, but also the core of Canada’s culture and identity: its people.” Her video took first place in the Bank of Montreal Adult Prize category, winning her $10,000 cash.

“I am delighted that the Here’s My Canada project has enabled thousands of young Canadians to share their vision of our future as we celebrate Canada 150. Congratulations to Kathy and to everyone who participated in this inspiring project,” said The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

“This competition was an incredible opportunity for Canadians to share their love and passion for our country during its 150th anniversary,” said Nada Ristich, Director, Community Giving at BMO Financial Group. “The quality of work was truly outstanding, and we congratulate the winners for their creativity and vision.”

“Through this program, we have seen and heard thousands of Canadians expressing their feelings about this country in so many different and creative ways,” said Anthony Wilson-Smith, President and CEO of Historica Canada. “That in itself is a great reflection of what it means to be Canadian.”

Jaylen Stark, a 19-year-old spoken word poet who lives in the GTA, won second place and $5,000 in the Adult Category for his video “13 Tips.” Olivier Jobin, a freelance director from Montreal, took third place and $3,000 for his video “On the Road.”

Here’s My Canada invited Canadians of all ages to share what Canada means to them in a 30-second video. Here’s My Canada is a project of Historica Canada and is a Canada 150 Signature project, made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Bank of Montreal.

Historica Canada offers programs that you can use to explore, learn and reflect on our history, and what it means to be Canadian.